America’s Kingdom of God

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 23, 2005 in Church | 0 comments

Our church continues to focus on examing what exactly it means to be participants in the Kingdom of God. Part of it, is certainly a worldwide focus on evangelism and the concerns of the universal church. I recall one recent Sheep article I did, the quote was given to me that 96% of money given in American churches, is used for American church buildings, salaries, etc. Certainly this is not the model and call we receive from scripture, where it was common for money/resources to be given generously for impoverished/suffering people.

This week’s World Magazine reminded me, why American’s must wake from our self-centerdness. The cost of being a Christian in much of the world is severe. We need to help them as we have been put in a position of financial blessings (at the cost of spiritual focus?). Here is an excerpt from the article, Arrest First, ask questions later (requires free subscription):

The South China Church is the most severely persecuted house church in the country, said Mr. Fu. The main reason, he said, is the churches’ “strong emphasis on evangelism and cultural renewal, and of course a very strong leadership.”

In 2001, authorities arrested founding pastor Gong Shengliang. They initially handed death sentences to him and four other church leaders, but later commuted them. Mr. Gong is now serving a life sentence and reportedly suffers physical abuse in prison. Four female church members served three years in re-education camps for recanting forced statements saying Mr. Gong had raped them.

One of the women, 34-year-old Liu Xianzhi, spent six years altogether in a camp, her first stint ordered for illegally evangelizing. She made rugs and Christmas lights before her release in February 2004. A year later, she escaped to the United States and spoke tearfully at a Washington press conference about the torture used against her to extract a confession against Mr. Gong. Officers beat her with an electrical rod, hung her by her hair until she lost consciousness, and tore her clothes off.

Packed, but still empty

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 18, 2005 in Church | 0 comments

Read an interesting article in this week’s World Magazine:

“Contemporary” churches aren’t attracting many contemporaries | by Gene Edward Veith

Quote:

Part of the problem is what sociologist and megachurch pastor Leith Anderson calls “generic Christianity.” He points out that today, one can go into a church (especially a megachurch) of nearly any denomination‚ÄîBaptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Wesleyan, Lutheran‚Äîand be unable to notice any difference among them. They all are likely to use the same praise songs and contemporary worship style. The sermons will tend to be about practical biblical tips for successful living, and go light on doctrine and sin. Also, all of these different denominations tend to use Sunday-school curriculum and other material from the same nondenominational publishers. These companies purposefully avoid all controversial issues and doctrinal distinctives, which would limit their market share.

Full Article: Packed, but still empty (Requires [free] Registration)

Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 17, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 0 comments

“Today’s passage tells us about a slave girl that was pimped twice over. She was being pimped by her master and she was being pimped by Satan,” said Pastor Andrea King. King’s sermon, The Art of Praise, was based on Acts chapter 16. “The girl earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. But after Paul cast out the demon, the Psychic Friends Network was canceled; the dial-a-demon network was disconnected. That’s the danger with the power of messing around with Jesus. You may get saved. You can’t come into the presence of God too many times without being changed. “The girl’s owners wanted Paul and Silas arrested because they cast the demon out. They had no formal charge, so the authorities arrested them by pulling the race card. The only charge against them was being a Jew. I wonder if someone here can relate,” asked Pastor King rhetorically. “Has someone here been pulled over for something, or maybe it would be better to say nothing.” Pastor King went on to encourage the congregation to praise God no matter the circumstances.

Full Article: Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist

Letters to the Editor PART III re: Mormon Article

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 17, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 0 comments

Well three weeks after my article the letters keep pouring in. One person even calls for my resignation over the issue:

(Emergent) Christian Writers Needed

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 17, 2005 in Church, Church Technology, Culture, Monk Dev | 27 comments

I have work for some writers who have been published on (at least) sites like Relevant, theOoze, NextWave, etc. and have a established blog presence.

Post your blog in a comment below for me to check out.